Locking railroad spike

ABSTRACT

A railroad spike having an elongated shank and offset head portion, the shank terminating in a pointed solid end, a bore extending longitudinally through the body portion of the shank and the head portion and terminating at the bottom thereof in an inverted Y configuration with the ends of the Y opening outwardly of the pointed sloping side surfaces of the shank penetrating end at diametrically opposed locations thereof, diametrically opposed longitudinally extending slots extending through the head portion and partially into the body member along the bore, and a locking pin of a diameter less than the diameter of the bore and having longitudinal flanges associated with the top end portion thereof adapted to align and orient the locking pin in the bore when inserted axially thereinto through the head portion, the bottom of the locking pin being longitudinally split into opposed identical members adapted to engage on opposite sides of the innermost end of the penetrating end and spread outwardly through the diametrically opposed openings upon driving the pin longitudinally into the bore such that the spike is driven normally into the railway tie or the like with the head engaging the foot of a railroad rail, after which the locking pin is inserted into the bore of the spike and driven vertically thereinto in a manner to effect the spreading of the tip members out of the diametrically opposed openings to firmly lock the spike in position to prevent movement or withdrawal thereof.

United States Patent Schiro LOCKING RAILROAD SPIKE Luke J. Schiro, 3266 Ashwood Way, Soquel, Calif. 95073 Filed: on. 12, 1973 Appl. No.: 405,808

[76] Inventor:

US. Cl 238/366, 85/10 R, 85/23, 238/369, 238/375 Int. Cl E01b 9/04, EOlb 9/12 Field of Search 238/366, 368, 369, 375, 238/376; 85/10 R, 13,26

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1915 Simpson 238/376 10/1935 Turner 238/366 3/1947 Tilly 238/366 2/1968 Suermann 238/366 Primary ExaminerLloyd L. King Assistant ExaminerRichard A. Bertsch Attorney, Agent, or FirmMarden S. Gordon [451 Feb. 11, 1975 portion of the shank and the head portion and terminating at the bottom thereof in an inverted Y configuration with the ends of the Y opening outwardly of the pointed sloping side surfaces of the shank penetrating end at diametrically opposed locations thereof, diametrically opposed longitudinally extending slots extending through the head portion and partially into the body member along the bore, and a locking pin of a diameter less than the diameter of the bore and having longitudinal flanges associated with the top end portion thereof adapted to align and orient the locking pin in the bore when inserted axially thereinto through the head portion, the bottom of the locking pin being longitudinally split into opposed identical members adapted to engage on opposite sides of the innermost end of the penetrating end and spread outwardly through the diametrically opposed openings upon driving the pin longitudinally into the bore such that the spike is driven normally into the railway tie or the like with the head engaging the foot of a railroad rail, after which the locking pin is inserted into the bore of the spike and driven vertically thereinto in a manner to effect the spreading of the tip members out of the diametrically opposed openings to firmly lock the spike in position to prevent movement or withdrawal thereof.

2 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures il P LOCKING RAILROAD SPIKE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to railroad spikes and more particularly to a novel and improved railroad spike including separately operable locking means to secure the spike in the driven position.

2. Description of the Prior Art It has long been known in the art to secure railroad rails to wooden ties by driving a spike into the tie with the head of the spike engaging the foot of the rail to secure the same in position. Such spikes must withstand the tremendous pressure exerted against the rail upon the passing of a train thereover, such pressure tending to loosen the spike within the tie and lift it therefrom causing a corresponding loosening of the rail, this posing a hazardous condition since any loosening of the rail could result in a serious train accident. In view of this possibility, and the well known fact of the loosening of spikes in ties, it is necessary that maintenance personnel continually check the rails and constantly pound the spikes back into position to maintain the rails tightly secured to the ties.

While there are known in the art spikes for securing railroad rails which are adapted to resist the loosening pressures exerted against such spikes, such have not met with widespread acceptance in view of the difficulty in setting the spike into the tie, cost of manufacture, difficulty in usage, malfunctioning of the different types of spikes and locking devices associated therewith, and 'the like such that there is still presently being used to secure rails to ties conventional type of spikes that have been used over many of the past years.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention recognizes the problems associated with loosening spikes securing railroad rails to railroad ties, and provides a novel solution thereto which remedies and overcomes all of the deficiencies and disadvantages of presently available and utilized railroad spikes. v

The present invention provides a novel railroad spike which is driven into the railroad tie in the conventional manner to engage and secure the foot of the rail thereagainst, after which a separate locking pin is driven through the body of the spike with the ends of the locking pin spreading outwardly when reaching the innermost end of the spike to bend outwardly through aper tures provided therefor in a manner to securely anchor the spike against any tendency of loosening or withdrawal.

It is a feature of the present invention to provide a locking railroad spike which is used in the same manner as a conventional spike but provides long needed locking requirements thereover.

A further feature of the present invention provides a railroad spike which is relatively simple in its construction and which therefore may be readily manufactured at a .relatively low cost and by simple manufacturing methods at a cost just slightly greater than the cost of conventional railroad spikes presently being used.

Yet still a further feature of the present invention provides a railroad spike adapted to be securely locked and anchored in the driven position against forces tending to loosen and withdraw the same, the spike being of a rugged and durable construction and which therefore may be guaranteed by the manufacturer to withstand a long lifetime of usage.

Other features and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which like reference characters are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a railroad rail secured to a railroad tie by a spike constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the spike;-

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the spike as secured in a railroad tie;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the locking pin;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along Line 55 of FIG. 2 with the locking pin in the inserted position;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 5 but without the locking pin; and

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along Line 7--7 of FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings in detail there is illustrated a preferred form of a locking railroad spike constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention and designated in its entirety by the reference numeral 10 and which is comprised of two component parts, namely a spike l1 and a locking pin 12. The spike and locking pin may be manufactured of any suitable satisfactory material having the desired strength and rigidity, with the preferred embodiment being manufactured of steel.

The spike 11 appears at first glance similar to the conventional railroad spike and is comprised of a longitudinally elongated cylindrical shank 21 terminating at the bottom in a penetrating end 22 in the form of an inverted cone with the top portion terminating in an enlarged head portion 23 of the usual form with side 24 of the head projecting at one side so as to extend over the foot 14 ofa railroad rail 15 which is rested on a railroad tie 16 into which the spike is driven in the conventional manner. A longitudinally extending bore 31 extends completely through the body member and head portion and terminates adjacent the base of the penetrating end 22 wherein the bore diverges in a pair of diametrically opposed angular passageways 32 which pass out of the side surfaces 33 of the penetrating end 22 in a position vertically upwardly from the point of g the penetrating end, the passageways defining therebetween a wedge shaped member 34 having the apex thereof disposed along the axis of the bore 31 and formed integrally with interior wall surfaces 35 which form the bottom surfaces of passageways 32. The head portion 23 includes therein a rectangular recess 41 having a bottom surface 42 which opens into the top end of bore 31, the recess being aligned with a pair of diametrically opposed longitudinally extending rectangularly shaped grooves 43 extending downward from the bottom surface 42 of the recess 41 into the body of the shank 21 in communication with the bore 31.

The locking pin 12 includes an elongated solid cylindrical rod 51 which extends a longitudinal length greater than the length of the spike 11, the top end of the rod terminating in an enlarged rectangularly shaped head portion 52 of a size and configuration adapted to be received in rectangular recess 41, the bottom end of the rod being split into separate members 53 by a longitudinally extending slot 54 bisecting the bottom end portion, each of the members 53 terminating in beveled ends 55 with such bevels projecting inwardly and upwardly from the outermost surfaces of the ends to the slot 54. Disposed in alignment with rectangularly shaped head 52 and extending longitudinally along diametrically opposed side walls of the rod 51 are elongated rectangular flange members 56 of a size and configuration adapted to be slidingly received in grooves 43 of spike 11 when the locking pin is inserted thereinto.

In operation, the spike 11 is used in the ordinary manner by being oriented relative to the foot 14 of rail 15 on railroad tie 16 after which the spike is pounded into the tie in the conventional manner until the head portion 24 firmly secures the rail to the tie. The locking pin 12 is then axially inserted into the bore 31 with flanges 56 engaging grooves 43 thus aligning the members 53 with respective passageways 32 on each side of the wedge shaped member 34, the oppositely beveled terminal ends 55 resting on opposite ends of the wedge projection on surfaces 35, after which the head portion 52 of the locking pin is pounded in a manner to drive the locking pin vertically downward into the spike until the head 52 is completely engaged in recess 41, the members 53 being wedged apart by surfaces 35 and wedge projection 34 to be deflected outwardly through the diametrically opposed passageways 32 in a manner to form a secure anchorage in the railroad tie 16 to prevent any possible loosening or accidental withdrawal of the spike from the railroad tie.

It is to be understood that the form of this invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that this invention is not to be limited to the exact arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying drawings or described in this specification as various changes in the details of construction as to shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of the novel concepts thereof, or the scope of the sub-joined claims.

I claim 1. A railroad spike intended for securing a railroad rail to a railroad tie or supporting surface or the like, the railroad spike comprising, in combination:

a spike comprising:

an elongated solid cylindrically shaped shank member having a top end, a bottom end, and cylindrical side walls;

a head member formed integrally with the top end of said shank member, said head member having an arcuately shaped top surface terminating at its perimeter in a flat horizontal bottom surface, said head member being laterally offset relative to the longitudinal axis of the shank to define an annular shoulder portion completely about the top end of the shank with a portion of said head member projecting a greater distance laterally beyond one side wall of the shank than at the diametrically opposed end thereof, this distance of projection adapted to engage a foot portion of a railroad rail along a top surface thereof so said laterally projecting head member when the spike is used to secure a railroad rail to a railroad tie and the like;

an inverted conically shaped penetrating end formed integrally at the bottom end of said shank member and extending longitudinally downwardly therefrom and terminating in the penetrating pointed end disposed along the longitudinal axis of said shank member, the base of said penetrating end formed integrally with the bottom end of said shank member;

a cylindrical bore extending longitudinally through said shank member concentric therewith extending from said head member to a point inwardly of said penetrating end and adjacent said base portion thereof;

a pair of diametrically opposed angular passageways each their innermost ends connected to the bottom end of the bore with their outermost ends projecting outwardly and downwardly from the bore and out of the conical side surfaces of the penetrating end in positions spaced intermediate the base and the point of the penetrating end, said passageways defining with said longitudinal axis of said shank member a plane bisecting said head member and lying parallel to the maximum projecting portion of said head member relative to said shank member, said passageways opening out of said conical side surfaces of said penetrating end at diametrically opposed points thereof;

a rectangularly elongated recess formed integrally in the top surface of said head member bisecting by said plane passing through said passageways, said recess lying parallel to said plane passing through said passageways and said bore, said recess extending diametrically along said head member parallel to the line of maximum projection of said head member from said shank member, said recess communicating with said top end of said bore which opens thereoutof;

a pair of diametrically opposed identically shaped and configured longitudinally extending slot like grooves disposed along diametric opposite side walls of said bore and extending therealong from said head member recess to a point inwardly of said shank member said grooves defining orienting grooves which lie in the plane defined by said passageways, said bore and said head member recess;

a wedge shaped projection defined at the common juncture point of said innermost ends of said passageways intersecting said bore, said projection having the apex portion thereof aligned with the longitudinal axis of said bore;

a locking pin comprising:

an elongated solid cylindrically shaped rod member having a top end, a bottom end, cylindrical side walls, and being of a diameter less than the diameter of said bore in said shank member;

a rectangular head portion formed integrally with said top end of said rod and being of a generally flat configuration ofa size adapted to be received in an orienting manner in said head member rectangular recess upon said locking pin being axially inserted into said bore;

said bottom end of said rod being bifurcated by a slot extending longitudinally along the axis of the rod a short distance inwardly thereof with the bottom end of the rod being divided into a pair of substantially identical longitudinally extending members disposed in side-by-side relationship;

the plane of said slot bifurcating said bottom end being disposed normal to the plane of said head portion;

each of said bottom end members having a terminal end thereof;

a beveled tapered edge defined on the terminal end of each member and sloping inwardly and outwardly from the outer surface of each member to the bifurcating slot;

a pair of diametrically opposed longitudinally extending flange members formed integrally with the side walls of the rod extending from a position adjacent the rod head portion to a position inwardly of said rod;

said flange members defining orienting members which define a plane with said rod longitudinal axis, said plane extending normal to the plane defined by the bifurcating slot and said rod axis;

the plane of said orienting defining flange members extending parallel to the plane of said head portions;

each of said flange members being identical to each other with each having a substantially rectangular cross-sectional area of a size and configuration which is slightly less than the cross-sectional area of the orienting grooves of the shank member so that said flange members may be freely slidably received in said orienting shank member grooves upon said locking pin being inserted into said spike;

said locking pin when inserted into said shank member having said orienting flanges engaged in said orienting grooves with said head portion aligned with said head member recess and with said beveled ends of said bifurcated end members resting on opposite surfaces of said apex in said passageways so as to rest on opposite sides of said wedge shaped projection; whereby driving the locking pin into said bore will effeet the spreading apart of the pair of separate end members by action of said beveled edges against said bottom surfaces of said angular passageways on both sides of said wedge shaped projection such that the terminal ends of said locking pin project outwardly from said passageways in diametrically opposite directions parallel to the plane of said maximum projected head member to securely anchor the spike against forces tending to loosen or withdraw the same. 2. A railroad spike as set forth in claim 1 further characterized by a plurality of tandemly disposed spike forming members formed integrally with each of said bifurcated ends spaced away from said bifurcating slot and extending from said beveled terminal ends upwardly therealong to a position inwardly of the stopping point of said bifurcating slot, said spikes defining teeth like retaining members for engaging the surface of the railroad tie upon the driving of the end members thereinto in a manner to assist in retaining the end members positioned therein.

l I =l 

1. A railroad spike intended for securing a railroad rail to a railroad tie or supporting surface or the like, the railroad spike comprising, in combination: a spike comprising: an elongated solid cylindrically shaped shank member having a top end, a bottom end, and cylindrical side walls; a head member formed integrally with the top end of said shank member, said head member having an arcuately shaped top surface terminating at its perimeter in a flat horizontal bottom surface, said head member being laterally offset relative to the longitudinal axis of the shank to define an annular shoulder portion completely about the top end of the shank with a portion of said head member projecting a greater distance laterally beyond one side wall of the shank than at the diametrically opposed end thereof, this distance of projection adapted to engage a foot portion of a railroad rail along a top surface thereof so said laterally projecting head member when the spike is used to secure a railroad rail to a railroad tie and the like; an inverted conically shaped penetrating end formed integrally at the bottom end of said shank Member and extending longitudinally downwardly therefrom and terminating in the penetrating pointed end disposed along the longitudinal axis of said shank member, the base of said penetrating end formed integrally with the bottom end of said shank member; a cylindrical bore extending longitudinally through said shank member concentric therewith extending from said head member to a point inwardly of said penetrating end and adjacent said base portion thereof; a pair of diametrically opposed angular passageways each their innermost ends connected to the bottom end of the bore with their outermost ends projecting outwardly and downwardly from the bore and out of the conical side surfaces of the penetrating end in positions spaced intermediate the base and the point of the penetrating end, said passageways defining with said longitudinal axis of said shank member a plane bisecting said head member and lying parallel to the maximum projecting portion of said head member relative to said shank member, said passageways opening out of said conical side surfaces of said penetrating end at diametrically opposed points thereof; a rectangularly elongated recess formed integrally in the top surface of said head member bisecting by said plane passing through said passageways, said recess lying parallel to said plane passing through said passageways and said bore, said recess extending diametrically along said head member parallel to the line of maximum projection of said head member from said shank member, said recess communicating with said top end of said bore which opens thereoutof; a pair of diametrically opposed identically shaped and configured longitudinally extending slot like grooves disposed along diametric opposite side walls of said bore and extending therealong from said head member recess to a point inwardly of said shank member said grooves defining orienting grooves which lie in the plane defined by said passageways, said bore and said head member recess; a wedge shaped projection defined at the common juncture point of said innermost ends of said passageways intersecting said bore, said projection having the apex portion thereof aligned with the longitudinal axis of said bore; a locking pin comprising: an elongated solid cylindrically shaped rod member having a top end, a bottom end, cylindrical side walls, and being of a diameter less than the diameter of said bore in said shank member; a rectangular head portion formed integrally with said top end of said rod and being of a generally flat configuration of a size adapted to be received in an orienting manner in said head member rectangular recess upon said locking pin being axially inserted into said bore; said bottom end of said rod being bifurcated by a slot extending longitudinally along the axis of the rod a short distance inwardly thereof with the bottom end of the rod being divided into a pair of substantially identical longitudinally extending members disposed in side-by-side relationship; the plane of said slot bifurcating said bottom end being disposed normal to the plane of said head portion; each of said bottom end members having a terminal end thereof; a beveled tapered edge defined on the terminal end of each member and sloping inwardly and outwardly from the outer surface of each member to the bifurcating slot; a pair of diametrically opposed longitudinally extending flange members formed integrally with the side walls of the rod extending from a position adjacent the rod head portion to a position inwardly of said rod; said flange members defining orienting members which define a plane with said rod longitudinal axis, said plane extending normal to the plane defined by the bifurcating slot and said rod axis; the plane of said orienting defining flange members extending parallel to the plane of said head portions; each of said flange members being identical to each other with each having a substantially rectangular cross-sectionAl area of a size and configuration which is slightly less than the cross-sectional area of the orienting grooves of the shank member so that said flange members may be freely slidably received in said orienting shank member grooves upon said locking pin being inserted into said spike; said locking pin when inserted into said shank member having said orienting flanges engaged in said orienting grooves with said head portion aligned with said head member recess and with said beveled ends of said bifurcated end members resting on opposite surfaces of said apex in said passageways so as to rest on opposite sides of said wedge shaped projection; whereby driving the locking pin into said bore will effect the spreading apart of the pair of separate end members by action of said beveled edges against said bottom surfaces of said angular passageways on both sides of said wedge shaped projection such that the terminal ends of said locking pin project outwardly from said passageways in diametrically opposite directions parallel to the plane of said maximum projected head member to securely anchor the spike against forces tending to loosen or withdraw the same.
 2. A railroad spike as set forth in claim 1 further characterized by a plurality of tandemly disposed spike forming members formed integrally with each of said bifurcated ends spaced away from said bifurcating slot and extending from said beveled terminal ends upwardly therealong to a position inwardly of the stopping point of said bifurcating slot, said spikes defining teeth like retaining members for engaging the surface of the railroad tie upon the driving of the end members thereinto in a manner to assist in retaining the end members positioned therein. 